Method for detaching a semiconductor chip from a foil

1. A method for detaching a semiconductor chip from a foil by means of a chip gripper and a die ejector, wherein the die ejector comprises a first plurality plates having a straight supporting edge and a second plurality of plates having an L-shaped supporting edge, a first set of two of the second plurality of plates are arranged to form a first pair of outermost plates, the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates protruding into a central hole of a cover plate, and wherein the supporting edges of the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates in an initial position form a supporting plane on which the foil rests, the method comprising the following steps: A) lifting all of the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates, so that the supporting edges of the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates assume a height H 1 above a surface of the cover plate; B) lowering the first pair of outermost plates leaving a first group of plates raised; C) lifting the first group of plates, so that the supporting edges of the first group of plates assume a height H 2 >H 1 above the surface of the cover plate; D) lowering some but not all of the first group of plates in a predetermined sequence leaving a last group of at least three plates from the first group of plates; E) positioning the chip gripper above the semiconductor chip; F) lowering the chip gripper into contact with the semiconductor chip before the lowering of the last group of at least three plates; and G) lowering the last group of at least three plates until all of the last group of at least three plates are lowered, wherein steps A to D are executed in the order listed above and before steps F and G.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates are fixed to a carrier; the carrier is configured to be displaceable perpendicularly to the surface of the cover plate; the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates are configured to be lifted and lowered relative to the carrier; the carrier is disposed in an initial predetermined position z 0 and the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates are configured to be lifted relative to the carrier, so that the supporting edges of the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates form a supporting plane on which the foil rests, and wherein the method further comprises: lifting the carrier a predetermined distance Δz 1 in step A; and lifting the carrier a predetermined distance Δz 2 in step C.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second set of two of the second plurality of plates is arranged to form a second pair of second outermost plates, the method further comprising: after step B, lowering the second pair of second outermost plates of the second plates.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: after step D, lowering the last group of at least three plates, so that the supporting edges of the last group of at least three plates assume a height H 3 <H 2 above the surface of the cover plate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein: the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates are fixed to a carrier; the carrier is configured to be displaceable perpendicularly to the surface of the cover plate; the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates are configured to be lifted and lowered relative to the carrier; the carrier is disposed in an initial predetermined position z 0 and the plates are configured to be lifted relative to the carrier, so that the supporting edges of the first plurality of plates and the second plurality of plates form a supporting plane on which the foil rests, and wherein the method further comprises: lifting the carrier a predetermined distance Δz 1 in step A; lifting the carrier a predetermined distance Δz 2 in step C; and lowering the carrier a predetermined distance Δz 3 in the ‘after step D’ step.